On a MWBE MissionEn una misión MWBE

On a MWBE Mission

More than 100 owners of Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) attended an open house earlier this month to learn about contracting with city government.

After city officials provided an overview of the benefits of getting certified as an MWBE, attendees had the chance to discuss open contract opportunities with 20 different city agencies.

The event, held at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building on May 4th, was hosted by the office of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, in collaboration with the city’s Small Business Services (SBS) agency.

“For many of you, every moment that you are awake is a moment spent thinking of ways to grow and help your business succeed,” Brewer said to attendees. “You do this not just for yourself, but for your family and community that you support and the customers that depend on you.”

New York City has the most minority-owned businesses of any city in the United States ― in 2013, MWBEs accounted for 40 percent of all city businesses.

Maya Wiley, Counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city’s MWBE Enterprise Director, pointed out that de Blasio has vowed to award $16 billion in city contracts to MWBEs over the next decade.

“The current administration is really built on ending income inequality,” stated Wiley. “We see the ability for the government to spend its money wisely and fairly, and ensure that all our small businesses, but in particular MWBEs, no matter what their size, are actually getting a fair and level playing field.”

“We will definitely walk you through the process,” said SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop.

Wiley pointed out that New York City’s MWBE program was not launched until 2005, which is late compared to other cities.

“We know that we have not done enough,” admitted Wiley. “We know that there’s more to do.”

SBS Commissioner Gregg Bishop explained that in order to win contracts with city agencies, all MWBEs should get certified through the city’s MWBE program.

“As they say, you’ve got to be in it to win it,” Bishop remarked. “And if you’re not certified, you’re not in it.”

Bishop stressed that SBS, which runs the city’s certification effort, is there to assist business owners get certified.

“We will hold your hand ― we will definitely walk you through the process,” stated Bishop.

Sandie Luna, a co-owner of Punto Space, a 4,000 square foot performance and event space on West 38th Street in Manhattan, said she was nearly done with the MWBE certification process and reported that she found it less arduous than expected.

“All the city asks you to do is compile information you already have, and they were really helpful throughout the entire process,” Luna said.

Punto Space recently completed its business audit from SBS as part of the certification process.

“The audit is intense, it lasted a few hours,” said Luna. “You’re being reviewed by an outsider. But it’s not like they’re out to get you. There’s a lot of communication back and forth.”

María Osorio is the SBS Assistant Commissioner of Operations.

For businesses who claim that the certification process is daunting, Bishop said, “If you’re running your business appropriately, the documentation we’re asking for should be really easy.”

Ny Whitaker, who runs her own Harlem-based marketing firm, Ny Whitaker Events Marketing Creative Consortium, said she just started the certification process after wrestling with the idea for several years.

“It always seemed like it was so labor intensive, but with all of the changes in the process, I felt it was time for me to move forward with it,” commented Whitaker. “I’ve been going to a lot of SBS-related events, and they’ve been doing a lot of coaching to walk us through this and to make sure we’re on the right track.”

Whitaker said she attended the open house mostly to network with similar businesses.

“I feel like a lot of MWBEs in the area don’t know each other, so we need to do more to come together and make sure that we know how we can collaborate for some of these big projects, so we can strengthen our voice in going for these RFPs,” Whitaker said.

María Osorio, Assistant Commissioner of Operations for SBS, said that MWBE-certified businesses receive enhanced benefits from the agency.

“We know that there’s more to do,” said MWBE Enterprise Director Maya Wiley.

“We have special workshops, trainings and mentorship programs that only certified folks have access to,” said Osorio. “You also get training on how to manage your back office, to deal with administrative tasks that are difficult, and inclusion in an online directory of certified businesses.”

Bishop said that SBS is in the process of hosting similar open houses event in every borough. While SBS hosts a procurement fair once a year, Bishop said SBS launched the meet-and-greet open houses to better connect small businesses to city agencies offering contracts.

“We want a consistent presence, where it’s not just once a year when you’re meeting folks,” remarked Bishop. Only MWBE-certified businesses are eligible to attend the procurement fair.

“While certification doesn’t guarantee you a contract, it certainly puts you in the room where you can learn about opportunities,” said Bishop. “There are plenty of MWBEs that have learned how to put in a bid package, won a contract, and then they keep winning them. Then you have revenue coming in from the government, and coming in from the private sector, and all of a sudden you’re growing your business.”

For more information on the city’s Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Certification Program, or to submit an application for certification, please visit http://on.nyc.gov/24XfAwM, call the Certification Helpline at 212.513.6311 or send an email to MWBE@sbs.nyc.gov for more details.

Think you fit the bill?

New York City has the most minority-owned businesses of any city in the United States.

At least 51% owned, controlled and operated by US citizen(s) or permanent resident(s) who is/are member(s) of a designated minority group(s) including Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific, and Asian-Indian OR a woman or women.

An eligible business also must have:

Been selling products or services for a period of at least one year prior to the date of application.

A real and substantial presence in the geographic market of New York City, which includes the five boroughs of New York City and the following counties: Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester in New York, and Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic in New Jersey. Businesses located outside of New York City must have a significant tie to the City’s business community (e.g., have derived 25% or more of gross receipts from business conducted in the City, possess a license issued by the City, etc.).